GRACE: A viable F9E replacement?

[Neil McCauley]

http://www.hifianswers.com/2017/08/grace-f9e-replacement/

[Barry]

The suggested alternative of a Decca cartridge certainly attracts controversy! I used to run a Grace F15E, but unfortunately broke the boron cantilever. Since Grace are now no longer in business, I replaced the F15 stylus with one designed for the F9E with success. This of course doesn't answer the question, but to go back to Decca cartridges, I would say that the Decca (either a Mk.III, upgraded Mk.V or Mk.VI) is the only fixed-coil cartridge to be a permanent alternative in my system - and I would concur with everything "topoxforddoc" says.

Of the other fixed coil designs (I'm not going to be drawn into the pedantry of whether they are moving magnet, induced magnet, moving iron, variable reluctance etc. designs), I can thoroughly recommend the old high compliance ADC designs, the B&O MMC designs and the AKG P8ES.

[Arkless Electronics]

I had an F9E for a short while.... it suffered a disaster! There was a stupid fad at the time for cleaning styli using the striker from safety matches, which was endorsed by Linn and several of the mags, and so, being a daft 20 year old at the time, this is how I cleaned the stylus of my new and very expensive Grace F9E (£128 in 1985 IIRC but that is completely from memory). I recall it being a stunningly good MM, one of the best ever, but after about 3-4 months use it seemed to have really "gone off"... I took it to a local hi fi shop who had a stylus magnifier and they told me it was completely worn out :doh:

[Neil McCauley]

but it needed a tone arm with a very low effective mass. I used an Air Tangent with some success but probably would have done better with a Mayware Formula 4.

Verey should, od course read very. Ho hum.

And od should, of course, read of

It's time i went home.

Neil